31 March 1913 at 31 Stafford Street,
Werneth, Oldham,
Lancashire[registered in Oldham, June 1913]. Birthdate
confirmed by death registration.To James and Fanny (née
Holt). The youngest of five children, the only son.Attended the
Municipal Secondary School, Oldham.

Married

to AnnRichards, St. John's
Church, Stanmore, 5 December 1942[registered in
Hendon, Middlesex, December 1942]. two daughters, Janet and Brenda,
one son, Alan.

Died

16 February 2002 at Royal
Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, aged 88 years322
days [registered in West
Surrey, February 2002]. He had inoperable cancer of the colon.

Playing Career

Walter Winterbottom trained successfully to be a
teacher, and having undergone his training in the Chester Teacher Training
College between 1931 and 1934. He then began his teaching career at
Alexandra Road School, Oldham. Now settled, he applied himself to sport.
As a halfback,
Winterbottom began
playing football for Royton Amateurs
FC and was then given a trial for Mossley FC in 1935 season
making a solitary appearance. He was invited back the following
season, 1935-36, and was signed on amateur forms. He made a
further 22 appearances. It was during
this time to he was invited to train with his local club, Oldham Athletic
AFC, the team he supported as a boy. He was even told by the manager, Bob
Mellor, that he was in the starting line-up, but when he turned up at the
ground an hour before kick-off, he was told he was not playing, that
Mellor had simply changed his mind. Walter never stepped into Boundary
Park again. He also appeared for the Manchester City FC 'A' team. But itwas Manchester United who signed him in the summer
of 1936, United wanted him as an amateur, but Walter held out for a
professional contract, which he got. He debuted as a right-half on 28
November 1936 at Elland Road against Leeds United AFC, losing 2-1, but, after only 25 league
appearances, his career was ended by a spinal injury (Ankylosing
Spondylitis) in 1937-38 season.
He did make wartime
guest appearances for Chelsea FC and played for the FA XI against the
Royal Air Force XI (despite being a member of
the RAF!) at Luton on 6 June 1942.

Club honours:None

Individual honours:Unused reserve for England's wartime international against Scotland at
Empire Stadium in Wembley on 10 October 1942.

Distinctions:While Winterbottom was enjoying his football career, he was also
training to be a schoolmaster. He was a student at Carnegie Physical
Education College from September 1937, where he was appointed a lecturer. In 1938, the FA ran a
summer school/conference at Carnegie and invited Winterbottom to join the
staff, it was here that Sir Stanley Rous and other FA coaching officials
first noted his capabilities.

In his first match playing for Mossley FC, against Altrincham FC in the
Cheshire League, Winterbottom successfully stopped their forward from
scoring in the scoreless draw match. He was due to play in the North vs.
South amateur trial match, but was removed. Bernard Joy took his place.
The FA had wrongly assumed, that because Winterbottom was playing for
Mossley, that he had forfeited his amateur status.

England Career

England tenure

The idea of having a man in charge of the England National
Team was first mooted by Stanley Rous, the FA Secretary, on 20 October
1945. Rous, and the FA, appointed Winterbottom national director
of coaching on 8 July 1946 with responsibility for the national team. He
was then appointed as England team manager in May 1947. He was responsible for Team
GB in the 1952 Olympic Games, and was in sole charge of the
Football League inter-league matches from October 1956 to July 1960.From
September 1960 The Football League Inter-League matches would be managed in an
honorary capacity by the previous seasons Football League Champions. Harry Potts of Burnley was first, then Stan Cullis, Wolves, had a stint six
months later. From July 1961, with the
World Cup looming, Winterbottom was invited again to take charge of the League
XI. Each inter-league match was considered an International Preparation
Match. Winterbottomannounced his resignation 1 August 1962 effective on appointment
of successor manager and left the post November 1962.

"Wing Commander W. Winterbottom, a former player
with Manchester United and director of physical fitness at the Air
Ministry during the war, has been appointed a member of the Football
Association staff. His primary duties will concern the direction and
extension of the coaching and instructional work of the Football
Association. While he has not been appointnted as England team manager, he
will take charge of teams at the discretion of the International Selectio
Committee, and, if so directed, will decide tactics." - 8
July 1946.

Up until 1954, Winterbottom had no staff at the FA. Norman Creek
was appointed as his assistant as Director of Coaching and given the
responsibilty of looking after the Amateur side, as well as the Great
Britain side at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. George Smith looked after
the Youth side from 1953 until 1956, when Ron Greenwood took over the
responsibilty. The Under-23 side was catered for by Bill Nicholson, and
then Ron Greenwood. In 1957, England got their first permanent trainer,
Harold Shepherson. Nicholson was also Winterbottom's assistant in the 1958
World Cup Finals. Billy Wright was chosen as his assistant for the 1962 World Cup
Finals, but after the former captain was appointed manager at Arsenal FC,
Jimmy Adamson was handed the role on 29 March 1962.

Beyond England

After Walter applied to replace Stanley Rous as the FA Secretary, and
despite media support, failed to gain the necessary votes. So he left the FA to become secretary of the Central Council for
Physical Recreation from 1 January 1963 until 1972. In 1965, he was also appointed
as the first director general of the Sports Council. Although Alf Ramsey
took over as team manager, it was Allen Wade that became the new Director
of Coaching.

Individual honours

OBE for services to football 1963; CBE for services to sport 1972; British Sports Writers' Association
J. L. Manning Trophy for Outstanding Achievement Outside Competition 1977; knighthood for services to sport 1978; appointed Honorary
Vice-President of the International Select Committee Council 1978; Sports
Coach UK (formerly the National Coaching Foundation) Dyson Award and
Coaching Hall of Fame 1999; Football Association Hall of Fame 2002.

All Sources

Graham Morse's
Father of Modern Football [2013] & Ancestry.com

Walter Winterbottom (ISC) - Match Record - All Matches

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts
%

W/L

Home

58

40

12

6

194

82

+112

1

15

3.345

1.414

79.3

+34

Away

68

36

16

16

172

93

+79

11

16

2.529

1.368

64.7

+20

Neutral

13

2

5

6

17

21

-4

5

3

1.308

1.615

34.6

-4

All

139

78

33

28

383

196

+187

17

34

2.755

1.410

68.0

+50

Walter Winterbottom (ISC) - Match Record - By Type of Match

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

WCP

14

12

2

0

56

14

+42

0

3

4.00

1.00

92.9

+12

WCF

14

3

5

6

19

21

-2

5

4

1.357

1.50

39.3

-3

World Cup

28

15

7

6

75

35

+40

5

7

2.679

1.25

66.1

+9

ENP

1

0

1

0

1

1

=0

0

0

1.00

1.00

50.0

=0

European Nations Cup

1

0

1

0

1

1

=0

0

0

1.00

1.00

50.0

=0

British
Championship

50

32

13

5

146

63

+83

1

12

2.92

1.26

77.0

+27

Friendly

66

37

12

17

186

104

+82

11

16

2.818

1.576

65.2

+20

All

139

78

33

28

383

196

+187

17

34

2.755

1.41

68.0

+50

Walter Winterbottom (ISC)
- Match Record - Tournament Matches

World Cup Preliminary Competition

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

WCP 1948-50

3

3

0

0

14

3

+11

0

1

4.667

1.00

100.0

+3

WCP/BC 1952-54

3

3

0

0

11

4

+7

0

0

3.667

1.333

100.0

+33

WCP 1956-58

4

3

1

0

15

5

+10

0

0

3.75

1.25

87.5

+3

WCP 1960-62

4

3

1

0

16

2

+14

0

2

4.00

0.50

87.5

+3

WCP All

14

12

2

0

56

14

+42

0

3

4.00

1.00

92.9

+12

World Cup Final Competition

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

WCF 1950

3

1

0

2

2

2

=0

2

1

0.667

0.667

33.3

-1

WCF 1954

3

1

1

1

8

8

=0

0

1

2.667

2.667

50.0

=0

WCF 1958

4

0

3

1

4

5

-1

2

1

1.00

1.25

37.5

-1

WCF 1962

4

1

1

2

5

6

-1

1

1

1.25

1.50

37.5

-1

WCF All

14

3

5

6

19

21

-2

5

4

1.357

1.50

39.3

-3

World Cup

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

WC 1948-50

6

4

0

2

16

5

+11

2

2

2.667

0.833

66.7

+2

WC 1952-54

6

4

1

1

19

12

+7

0

1

3.167

2.00

75.0

+3

WC 1956-58

8

3

4

1

19

10

+9

2

1

2.375

1.25

62.5

+2

WC 1960-62

8

4

2

2

21

8

+13

1

3

2.625

1.00

62.5

+2

WC All

28

15

7

6

75

35

+40

5

7

2.679

1.25

66.1

+9

European Nations Cup Preliminary Competition

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

ENC 1962-64

1

0

1

0

1

1

=0

0

0

1.00

1.00

50.0

=0

ENC All

1

0

1

0

1

1

=0

0

0

1.00

1.00

50.0

=0

British Championship Competition

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

BC 1946-47

3

2

1

0

11

3

+8

0

1

3.667

1.00

83.3

+2

BC 1947-48

3

2

1

0

7

2

+5

0

2

2.333

0.667

83.3

+2

BC 1948-49

3

2

0

1

8

5

+3

0

1

2.667

1.667

66.7

+1

BC 1949-50

3

3

0

0

14

3

+11

0

1

4.667

1.00

100.0

+3

BC 1950-51

3

2

0

1

10

6

+4

0

0

3.333

2.00

66.7

+1

BC 1951-52

3

2

1

0

5

2

+3

0

1

1.667

0.667

83.3

+2

BC 1952-53

3

1

2

0

9

6

+3

0

0

3.00

2.00

66.7

+1

BC/WCP 1953-54

3

3

0

0

11

4

+7

0

0

3.667

1.333

100.0

+3

BC 1954-55

3

3

0

0

12

4

+8

0

1

4.00

1.333

100.0

+3

BC 1955-56

3

1

1

1

5

3

+2

0

1

1.667

1.00

50.0

=0

BC 1956-57

3

2

1

0

6

3

+3

0

0

2.00

1.00

83.3

+2

BC 1957-58

3

2

0

1

10

3

+7

0

2

3.333

1.00

66.7

+1

BC 1958-59

3

1

2

0

6

5

+1

0

1

2.00

1.667

66.7

+1

BC 1959-60

3

1

2

0

4

3

+1

0

0

1.333

1.00

66.7

+1

BC 1960-61

3

3

0

0

19

6

+13

0

0

6.333

2.00

100.0

+3

BC 1961-62

3

0

2

1

2

4

-2

1

2

0.667

1.333

33.33

-1

BC 1962-63

2

2

0

0

7

1

+6

0

1

3.50

0.50

100.0

+2

BC All

50

32

13

5

146

63

+83

1

12

2.92

1.26

77.0

+27

All Competition

Type

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

FTS

CS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

WC

28

15

7

6

75

35

+40

5

7

2.679

1.25

66.1

+9

ENC

1

0

1

0

1

1

=0

0

0

1.00

1.00

50.0

=0

BC

50

32

13

5

146

63

+83

1

12

2.92

1.26

77.0

+27

Major Tournament
Total (excl. BC)

29

15

8

6

76

36

+40

5

7

2.621

1.241

65.5

+9

Note that the 1953-54 records of the World Cup
preliminaries and British Championships are duplicated, and one set is
therefore deducted from the grand total.

All (incl. BC)

79

47

21

11

222

99

+123

6

19

2.81

1.253

72.8

+36

Matches in which Walter
Winterbottom (ISC) was in
charge of
training England

Took directorship of
coaching in September 1946. ISC selected the team